Happy Holi I’m not going to go into why Holi is celebrated as I’ve already mentioned that in my other Holi posts. However, I still believe that everyone can enjoy a more environmentally friendly Holi by not using artificial colors. Not only do those awful reds, blues, greens and yellows not come off our skin and hair for days but it affects the plants, makes the roads look messy and dirty. Its also a waste of water which is fast becoming even more precious than any metal on earth. At the same time please please please leave your pets out of this celebration. A hug should suffice and not coloring the poor creature’s fur with all sorts of colors! When I was growing up…

Happy Valentine’s Day What is Valentine’s Day without roses, chocolates and all things cute? Hope hubby is reading this and gets a hint;). People could be selling Valentine’s paraphernalia right under his nose and he’d still not get the hint. Sighhhh! Perhaps I should treat myself to roses. Getting down to today’s theme for FoodieMonday/Bloghop group, we unanimously decided on Valentine Rose as our 131st theme. For this theme one could either prepare something that has rose flavor or which is in the shape of a rose. I really love rose flavor so I chose to make a healthy but romantic dessert. Though I served to hubby dear a few days before Valentine’s, he thoroughly enjoyed the early treat. That means I will…

Happy Valentine’s Day To love someone deeply gives you strength and to be loved deeply by someone gives you courage. This is so true.Its my hubby’s love that gives me courage to do want I want. Loving him gives me the strength to overcome any difficulties. My hubby has never been the flowers, chocolates, teddy bear type of person. Yesterday after watching Raees we went for lunch to a famous Italian restaurant. We were sitting next to the very tempting choices of gelato but he didn’t ask me if I wanted some as Valentine’s Day is around the corner. In all our 34 years of marriage I received only one valentine’s card from him and that too when he was away doing his dermatology…

Vasant Panchami/Basant Panchami/ Saraswati Puja Om Hreem Saraswatyai Namah Saraswati Ma.(source Google) It is believed that the celebration of this auspicious day which falls on the 5th day of the Magh month (Gregorian calendar month of February) marks the beginning of spring season. Punjab region celebrates this festival by flying kites.The mustard plants begins to flower during this time, creating stretches of fields into bright yellow carpets.The blooming mustard plants symbolise youth, freshness, procreation,love, change and life itself. Its a day when people wear yellow clothes and celebrate with sweets that are yellow in colour. In Uttarkashi, its a farmers festival. Doors of homes are decorated with yellow flowers to welcome spring and the sowing season. In Bihar people wears yellow clothes and yellow tilaks…

Mouthwatering and cooling For the month of May members of Shhh Cooking Secretly decided to use mango as the main ingredient and their partners had to still give 2 secret ingredients that can be used along with mango. So far the photos I seen from fellow members vary from curry, ice cream to pickles. My partner for this month Sharanya Palanisshami of Sara’s Tasty Buds gave me coconut and agar agar as my other two ingredients. Check out her blog. She has a wide variety of recipes ranging from traditional to baked. For a long time I had saved the recipe Mango Coconut Jelly by Pailin of Hot Thai Kitchen. Finally I made it for this challenge. The jelly turned out well taste wise. It’s a…

Happy Holi everyone It’s #Foodiemonday #bloghop day already. A group of 12 that post every month on different themes. We are still continuing with the Holi festival as Holi is just round the corner. Last week it was thandai based recipes and this week we are allowed to cook with a riot of colours. Choose one, two or many. I am waiting to see what my co members of this group come up with. I decided to work with 2 colours orange and red for the 32nd theme #FestivalofColors. It had to a quick and easy recipe as I had travelled to Malindi for my Club’s(Lions Club of Mombasa Bahari) medical camp.Please do check out our website http://www.lionsbahari.com/ The sweltering heat was made bearable by the lovely…

A refreshing treat When I came across the shhh cooking secretly, I wanted to be a part of the group immediately. Firstly, because it would challenge me to cook with two complimentary ingredients or not so compatible ingredients. Secondly, it would give me the opportunity to get to know other food bloggers and become their blogging friends. Thirdly, it would give me the opportunity to go through my never ending jotted or bookmarked recipes. Its like you try out one and 2-3 get added! And lastly, which eventually we all want is an exposure of our blogs to the rest of the ever so competitive blogging world. I joined the group in July 2014 and have enjoyed being a part of it ever since. For…

my 500th recipe Its been an exciting journey since I started blogging. Along the way I have learnt so many new ingredients, recipes and cuisines. I’ve had my shares of flops and hits. I have also learnt how to try and salvage a flop dish, if possible. Looking back, I do have to update some of my recipes. I need to take better photos or do a better presentation. However, my main focus is always on the recipe itself. Since I have started blogging, its also been a way of sharing my thoughts and views with my followers. It’s like a diary which I can go back to whenever I want. Sad and happy events, both have found space on my blog. So today’s event…

very berry yummy Today was not such a great day for me. From the time I woke up I was on the go and trying to juggle so many chores all together. In all this what did I sacrifice? My exercise. By noon I was feeling a bit relieved that chores were getting ticked off my list. However come evening and again I experienced a general slum in my overall existence. Felt bad that I sacrificed exercise to do other chores. I questioned myself and thought why didn’t I sacrifice my meal time? However, things had to be done so there was no other option. To add to the fight for time, I had to sit at the national id card office…

my 400th recipe Hot weather means cold treats. Celebration time means sweet treat. Pamper me time means indulgence. Usually one cannot indulge in a curry or roti or rice. It usually means a sweet treat…. chocolates, ice cream, dessert etc. Whatever the reason, sweets and desserts are always a welcome treat. This recipe didn’t get blogged when it was suppose to but better late than never. I made the mousse when I was writing out the wedding invitations. Instead of a typical indian sweet treat like ladoos, barfi etc I decided to make a mousse with a bit of all the goodness of typical Indian spices.This gave me the opportunity to try the recipe I had bookmarked for ages, Tarla Dalal’s thandai mousse. There definitely was…